Holy shit. I…there’s no…I just…I have no words (but that’s not gonna stop me from writing). Seriously though, I can’t begin to explain how amazing Brand New was tonight. They played for nearly two hours (longest set I’ve ever seen them do by far) and they were just phenomenal. They played almost all of my favorite songs (including closing with “Play Crack the Sky” – I could die), but that wasn’t what made the show so special. No, it was the way they were playing, their attitude; they were loose and it seemed like they were having fun. As much as I adore them, I have always had to admit that they didn’t seem to enjoy playing live whenever I saw them. Jesse kind of alluded to that when he said that they sometimes “forget that [they’re] a band,” but he also said how much fun they’d had rehearsing for these three shows. Speaking of, man I wish I could go to the two shows they’re playing on Long Island (or at least the one show that Sainthood Reps is opening), but I can’t (and not just ’cause they’re sold out).

So, was the show worth the expense of flying up here and staying in hotels? Fuck yes. I can’t wait to look for YouTube videos from tonight (but not until after I finish my last paper of the semester).

I’ve had an epiphany. (Technically, I had it weeks ago, but this is the first time I’ve actually logged on to my blog in ages. Actually, why am I posting this? I was the only person who knew when I started planning this post. That is, until I felt compelled to come clean about it in a parenthetical digression that is now longer than the “actual” post to this point. Maybe my mom is right. Maybe I *am* a little too honest in my blog.) See, when I was in college, I occasionally told people that my dream job would be getting paid to obsess over pop culture (preferably the pop culture stuff that I actually like and obsess over for free). I think the clearest picture I had of said job (in my head) was working for MTV News as a writer for their website. This was back in the late 90s, you see, when blogs weren’t a thing. In retrospect, I’m not sure how great of a fit that would be because it turns out I’m not super comfortable attaching my name to things I write on the internet. But, y’know, maybe I’d get over it if I were getting paid.

Here’s where the epiphany comes in. It occurred to me (weeks ago) that this blog could be my opportunity to obsess (publicly) over whatever I’m currently into. Granted, I’m not getting paid, but it’s a start.

So here’s what I’m currently obsessing over: Jim Thome. I was ecstatic when I found out yesterday that the Phillies had signed him to a one-year deal. I’m talking jumping-up-and-down-screaming-my-head-off excited. Which is a much better feeling than the utter sadness I felt when the Indians claimed him off waivers last season. Such an extreme emotional reaction over a baseball player is a little out there, even for me, but Jim Thome isn’t just any baseball player in my world. I may have been able to name the entire 25-man roster this past season, but from 2003-2005 I could only name one player on the Phillies, and that one player was Jim Thome. So, maybe it’s not that weird that I’m excited he’s back.

Now I can cross writing this post off my to do list. Thank goodness. I wish I could promise to be more conscientious about blogging regularly, but I’m pretty sure that won’t be happening in the near future. I’ve got 3 research papers and 2 group projects to get done in the next month (plus 2 trips away from home during that time). So, yeah, I’ll be busy. But maybe, if I’m really excited about something, I’ll post it.

In case you were wondering, the thing I was really stoked about when I actually had my epiphany was Charisma Carpenter & James Marsters guest-starring on an episode of Supernatural. Cordelia & Spike, together again – it was heaven for my little Whedon-loving heart.